Working in Finance

Financial Services offers a wealth of opportunities for graduates across a wide variety of different sub sectors from investment banking jobs to stockbroking jobs, investment management to insurance.
The insurance industry is one of the world's oldest financial services industries and in fact the number of insurance jobs is roughly one third the total number of financial services roles at any one time. Roles generally revolve around claims, underwriting, broking, accountancy, risk and compliance. And, as insurance employment is truly global, it's a sector which also offers opportunities to work overseas in places such as continental Europe, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the United States.
Investment banks raise funds and provide complex financing structures for commercial client activity as well as offering merger & acquisition advice, treasury dealing and securities trading. Investment banks tend to be huge entities with offices across the globe. Staff numbers often run into the thousands which in turn creates a vibrant job market. It's also possible to work for smaller, so called "boutique" investment banks which specialise more heavily around a particular area. Jobs in investment banking have traditionally been split out into three main areas, back office, middle office and front office. Jobs in the investment banking front office include sales and trading, equity research and corporate finance. Middle office roles include product control, financial control, risk and compliance. If the job is in an investment bank back office, it's likely you'll be working in operations and non-finance related roles such as human resources, marketing or secretarial/office support.
Private wealth managers help clients make informed decisions on where to invest their money by offering advice on tax, pensions, life assurance, asset management and estate planning. Private wealth management jobs therefore include all aspects of client relationship management from bringing in new business to devising the planning strategies behind a client's wealth. Private wealth management jobs can be found either in accountancy or law firms, boutique private wealth management firms, private banking arms of clearing banks, investment banks, stockbrokers and private client fund managers.
Stockbroking jobs are found mainly in investment banks but also within firms of brokers. In either case if you work in a stockbroking role you will advise clients on investment strategies, look at how much risk is involved and buy and sell securities on their clients' behalf. Many stockbroking jobs offer on the job training. However to progress , exams must be taken via the Securities and Investment Institute (SII) in order to become registered with the Financial Services Authority.
Considered the 'maverick' outsiders in the financial services world, most hedge fund companies are owned by successful former traders or fund managers who've decided to go it alone. There are many different types of job available in a hedge fund- these include:
a) Analysis: analysing the companies, markets and financial products a hedge fund invests in. b) Sales and marketing: the relationship managers who liaise with investors, and help sell the merits of the fund. c) Trading: executing the investment strategy, buying and selling financial products according to analysts' recommendations. d) Risk management and back office: settling trades, working out a hedge fund's risk exposure and making sure everything flows smoothly. In many small funds this is outsourced to 'prime brokerage' divisions in investment banks.
Investment managers or fund managers bear certain similarities to hedge funds. Essentially, investment management is the professional management of various securities (shares, bonds etc) assets (e.g. real estate), to meet specified investment goals for the benefit of the investors. Covering a wide range of specialist investment management jobs from portfolio administration, valuation, marketing, performance analysis and fund accounting through to fund manager's assistants, broker sales support and junior fund managers, the investment management sector offers some of the best job opportunities within fund managers, global custody houses and private banking companies across all product areas.